Crossword Genius

Reversed agreement with criticism -- sorry? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pardon

'sorry?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'reversed agreement with criticism' is the wordplay.
'reversed' says the letters should be written backwards.
'agreement' becomes 'nod' (I've seen this in other clues).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'criticism' becomes 'rap' (as in taking the rap for a mistake).
'nod'+'rap'='nodrap'
'nodrap' backwards is 'PARDON'.

(Other definitions for pardon that I've seen before include "Allow to go unpunished" , ""I'm sorry, could you say that again?"" , "Forgive - eh?" , "Excuse me, kindly overlook" , "Let off" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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